Google Suspends Gemini AI Image Generator for Creation of Inaccurate Historical Pictures

Google announced on Thursday that it is pausing its Gemini artificial intelligence image generation creator following “inaccuracies” in historical pictures that were formed using the feature, according to CNBC.

There have been complaints by users of the platform saying that the AI tool generates images of historical figures such as the U.S. Founding Fathers as women and people of color, which is not accurate.

The company said its tool was “missing the mark.”

In a post on X on Wednesday, Google said that the AI function can “generate a wide range of people. And that’s generally a good thing because people around the world use it.” But it added that the software feature is “missing the mark here” and that the tech giant is “working to improve these kinds of depictions immediately.”

On Thursday, Google announced an updated statement, indicating a temporary suspension of Gemini’s feature that generates images of people. An “improved” version is slated for re-release soon.

This isn’t the first time AI has run into problems related to diversity and made an apology. Almost a decade ago, Google’s photo app labeled a photo of Black couples as “gorillas,” according to BBC.

At the beginning of February, the image generator tool was launched through Gemini, which was previously called Bard. It has been a turbulent time for Google as it attempts to catch up and compete with rival OpenAI backed by Microsoft.

As Google faces problems with Gemini’s image creation, last week OpenAI released Sora, which is a new generative AI model that can create “realistic” and “imaginative” 60-second videos from quick verbal cues.

On Wednesday, Jack Krawczyk, a senior director of product for Gemini at Google, said that the image generation capabilities in Gemini reflect the company’s “global user base” and that it takes “representation and bias seriously.”

In a post on X, Krawczyk said, “We will continue to do this for open ended prompts (images of a person walking a dog are universal!).” He added, “Historical contexts have more nuance to them and we will further tune to accommodate that.”